Will molecular optical imaging have clinically important roles in stroke management, and how?

Molecular imaging is a novel technology to visualize biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels, which is reshaping both biomedical research and clinical practice. By providing molecular information to supplement and augment conventional anatomy-based imaging, molecular imaging is expected to allow 1) the earlier detection of diseases, 2) precise evaluation of disease stages, and 3) both diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring of disease progression in a quantitative manner. In this brief review, we present our view on the prospects of molecular optical imaging in the field of stroke practice, focusing on the imaging vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques, thrombolytic resistance, real-time cerebral perfusion, and penumbra.